Lal Bahadur Shastri son of a poor schoolteacher, born in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Self-Educated, Self made man who was inspired by his foster father, friend guide and philosopher Nishkameshwar Prasad Misra and who became an example to the fellow countrymen. A member of Mahatma Gandhi's Non-cooperation Movement he was imprisoned for a short time (1921). Upon release he studied in the Kashi Vidyapitha, a nationalist university, where he graduated with the title of Shastri ("learned in the scriptures"). He then returned to politics and went to prison many times. Shastri was elected to the legislature of the United Provinces in 1937 and 1946. After India's independence, Shastri gained experience as a minister for home affairs and transport in Uttar Pradesh. He was elected to the central Indian legislature in 1952 and became the union minister for railways and transport. He gained a reputation as a skillful mediator after his appointment to the influential post of minister for home affairs in 1961.